Impact of neonatal hyperoxia on pulmonary diffusion and alveolar volume. (A) Assessment of the diffusion factor for carbon monoxide (DFCO) at 2 months of age in animals continuously raised in room air (RA), or initially exposed to neonatal hyperoxia (≥90% O2) for the first 4, 7, or 14 days after birth followed by recovery in RA. (B) Assessment of alveolar volume by neon gas dilution. Values are expressed as means±SEM. ***P < 0.001 versus RA, **P < 0.01 versus RA, #P < 0.05 versus O2 P0-4, ###P < 0.001 versus O2 P0-4, $$$P < 0.001 versus O2 P0-7 by one way ANOVA using Tukey’s multiple comparison post-test analysis. Results are representative of three independent experiments. n = 10 (RA), 10 (O2 P0-P4), 18 (O2 P0-P7), 9 (O2 P0-P14).